C&D Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit against Two Illinois Trucking Companies

07.19.2014

Last week, the Chicago law firm of Corboy & Demetrio filed a wrongful death lawsuit in the death of a 51-year-old Vicksburg, Michigan man who was killed when a semi-tractor ran a red light and slammed into his car in Elwood, Illinois on May 30, 2014. Today, Cook County Circuit Court Judge John H. Ehrlich entered a protective order over the evidence, including preserving the tractor, its black box data, and all records pertaining to the driver.

The victim, Donald W. Lundberg, an aeronautical engineer, was traveling home to Michigan from his job in Illinois for the birth of his grandchild. The collision happened at the intersection of Arsenal and Baseline Roads, an area known for heavy truck traffic because of its close proximity to the CenterPoint Intermodal Center, which holds itself out as the nation’s largest inland port. The lawsuit names as defendants the semi-tractor’s driver, Siefeddin M. Khattab, and the two Cook County, Illinois companies responsible for the ownership and operation of the semi-tractor, U.S. National Freight System, Inc., based in Tinley Park, and Transtar Express LLC, based in Elk Grove Village.

“The traumatic and untimely death of this devoted husband, loving father, and doting grandfather was made all the more tragic by the fact that it was entirely preventable,” said Corboy & Demetrio Partner Daniel S. Kirschner who is representing the Lundberg family. Kirschner added, “The negligent operation of this semi-tractor amounted to 20,000 pounds of carelessness upon our roadway, which resulted in the innocent loss of this vital human being.”

Kirschner explained, “This lawsuit was filed to force those who are responsible for this tragedy to answer one simple question: ‘why?’, and to prevent another family from suffering this same unthinkable fate. In addition to investigating the safety record of this driver and these two trucking companies, we will be seeking compensation for this family’s substantial loss from the liability insurance carriers for these companies. ”

Kirschner said, “It was necessary today to seek this protective order to preserve the evidence and prevent its loss or destruction.”

In addition to his wife, Renea, Donald Lundberg left behind four children and two grandchildren.